What we do
National Skills Academies
National Skills Academies are employer-led, world-class centres of excellence delivering the skills required by each major sector of the economy. The National Skills Academy network will be the new gold standard for industry training, aiming to improve productivity and tackle skills shortages across England.
The National Skills Academy network was initiated by the government to address the need for a world-class workforce and offer employers a totally new method of influencing the types of training and methods of delivery available. The Leitch Review of Skills recognises the role the Academies can play in raising this demand for skills from employers and learners alike.
National Skills Academies will vary in scope and structure according to the needs of employers. They will be focused on vocational education and skills training, delivering to young people (16-19-year-olds) and adults and will be sector-based centres of excellence with national reach.
The government aims to have 12 National Skills Academies up and running by 2008. So far, the government has approved National Skills Academies for the construction, financial services, manufacturing and food and drink manufacturing industries.
In October 2006, bids from the nuclear, process industries, creative and cultural and hospitality sectors were invited to go into the business planning stage to become a National Skills Academy.
The third round prospectus has also been published inviting bids for 5 March 2007.
National Skills Academies aim to:
- deliver high quality training for a specific sector
- provide first-class teaching in a modern learning environment
- be centres of innovation and creativity in skills development for their sector
- be flexible, sustaining the closest possible relationships with employers of all sizes
- build specialist networks with a range of other learning providers, so that new thinking, new methods and higher standards are shared. to the benefit of learners and employers.
In some cases, Skills Academies will have their own buildings, but the training environments will be flexible - for example at NSA accredited training centres or at an employer’s site.
NSA accredited training centres comprise a wide range of training organisations, and will be organised to ensure a good geographical spread of opportunities for learners to follow specialist courses. Learners can also follow some training courses through distance learning techniques, including e-learning.
This initiative is being driven by well-known companies in each industry. Names such as Bovis Lend Lease, Kier Homes, Northern Foods Plc, Youngs Bluecrest Seafood Ltd, Filtronic Plc, Caterpillar, Nationwide Building Society and Norwich Union Insurance have committed to leading the successful bids.
Find out more at http://www.nationalskillsacademy.gov.uk/
